User:Mizuzulu/sandbox

Gene Bluestein May 1, 1928 – August 21, 2002) Gene Bluestein was an American Studies professor, musician and author.

Gene Bluestein was awarded a BA degree from Brooklyn College and MA and PhD degrees (in American Studies) from the University of Minnesota. His first job was teaching English at Michigan State University. He came to Fresno State University, now CSUF, in 1963. While there, he was awarded many local and national honors, including three teaching Fulbright fellowships (once to Finland and twice to Japan). He also taught in France in 1975, and in China in 1989. At CSUF, he and a colleague were instrumental in establishing a Black Studies program.

Resident Folk Artist Program 1967–1987 Gene helped create many innovative programs at California State University Fresno. As part of his commitment to his job as an American studies professor, he regularly brought America’s great folk artists to cities in which he lived. A partial list includes Lightnin’ Hopkins, Pete Seeger, Doc Watson, Buell Kazee, The Georgia Sea Island Singers, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Kilby Snow, Mike Seeger, The New Lost City Ramblers, Malvina Reynolds, and Jean Carignan. Perhaps his crowning creation was a program known as the Resident Folk Artist Program. Over the course of six semesters, with funds awarded by The National Endowment for the Arts and the School of Humanities, six internationally acclaimed American folk artists were hired to teach music and culture of their own heritage. The Resident Folk Artists included: 1976-77 Kenny Hall, Bessie Jones 1978-79 Richard Hagopian, Jean Ritchie 1982 (spring) Lydia Mendoza 1987 (spring) Dewey Balfa

"Gene Bluestein’s life was one of those that defies easy categorization. English professor, musician, folklorist, husband, father, social activist – he was all of those things, yet all of those neat little boxes put together cannot contain the whole. Bluestein’s death at the age of 74, is a source of grief for many, but it also serves to remind us of his contributions. He was a beloved English professor at Fresno State, in large part because of his inclusion of music in his literature classes, which went against the grain of stratified academe. He also brought an innovative artist-in-residence program to the campus. The use of music sprang from Bluestein’s conviction that music, dance, and art are inseparable from life. They certainly were for Bluestein and his family. And it’s not possible to separate Gene Bluestein from his family – his wife Ellie, and their children, sons Joel, Evo, Jemmy, and daughter Frayda. All of the children became accomplished musicians, and for years they performed with their father for delighted Fresno audiences in their annual Bluestein Family concerts. The Bluestein’s home became famous as a sort of headquarters for high-energy involvement with life. The visiting artists stayed there during their semesters in Fresno, and there was a constant stream of friends, family and activists of every stripe, often lending the place an air of chaotic joy. That was Gene Bluestein‘s environment, the perfect place for a kind and gentle man brimming with passion for justice and life." –Fresno Bee Editorial, August 24, 2002

A biography about Gene and his wife Ellie "Rings Like Silver, Shines Like Gold," is available.

Gene Bluestein Recordings and Books Recordings Bamboushay Steel Band (Smithsonian Folkways 1962) Songs of the North Star State (Smithsonian Folkways 1958) Songs of the Holidays (Smithsonian Folkways 1958) Sowin' on the Mountain, The Bluestein Family (Fretless, 1980) Let the Dove Come In, The Bluestein Family (Fretless 1981) A Horse Named Bill, The Bluestein Family (Greenhays 1981) Travelin' Blues, The Bluestein Family (Swallow 1982) Where Does Love Come From? The Bluestein Family (Greenhays 1986) Good Morning Blues, The Bluestein Family (Doghill 1987) Shut Up and Sing, The Bluestein Family (Doghill 1989) Gene Bluestein Retrospective (Doghill 2002) Books Voice of the Folk (University of Massachusetts Pres, 1972) Poplore (University of Massachusetts Press 1994) Anglish-Yinglish (University of Nebraska Press 1998) The Life and Death of a Polish Shtetl (University of Nebraska Press, 2000)